On the day before New Year's Eve, Song Shihuan brought the old man to a place.
"This is where Grandma is buried. Father has had it repaired; it looks much nicer than before."
Over the years, Song Shihuan had grown quite a bit in height, now blossoming into a graceful young woman.
The old man behind her cracked a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Holding a roast goose, he stood there foolishly, unsure what to do.
"Grandma, Master is back. He remembers you loved roast goose best and specially went to buy it for you."
"Master, why aren't you saying anything?"
Song Shihuan turned her head to look at the old man. He wiped his eyes with his hand, then placed the roast goose before the grave, along with a single red plum blossom.
The white of the snow and the red of the plum complemented each other.
"Don't eat too much roast goose; it's not good for your health."
Hearing the old man's words, Song Shihuan couldn't help but pout. That line again.
Grandma would definitely be covering her ears if she heard it.
"I was too late. I couldn't save you, and I couldn't protect Ah Huan either."
The old man rambled on in front of the grave for a long time. Song Shihuan wasn't in a hurry, just waited patiently by his side.
It wasn't until dusk began to fall that the old man finally pushed himself up. "Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. We'll save a seat for you at the table, so remember to come and have the reunion dinner with us."
Hearing the words "reunion dinner," Song Shihuan couldn't help but smile.
Yes.
This was the true reunion.
Everyone she loved, and everyone who loved her, was by her side.
......
Everyone had a wonderful New Year this year.
They had won the war and stabilized the court. Even the common people on the streets wore joyful smiles. With the Great Qi nation prosperous and strong, their lives were naturally happy and fulfilling.
At the Gu residence.
Gu Zheng was playing with his little granddaughter. Tuan was now at that delightful age where she could babble in response to adults, understanding speech but not yet able to talk properly.
Seizing a moment when no one was watching, Gu Zheng quickly planted a kiss on Tuan's little cheek. The next second, he was met with a roar worthy of a lioness:
"Father! You kissed Tuan again!"
Gu Mingzhu looked like a mother hen protecting her chick. "Your beard is so rough! Tuan's skin is delicate; it will hurt her."
"Unless you shave that beard off, you can't kiss Tuan."
"How could I possibly do that?" Gu Zheng's voice rose several notches. "What kind of man doesn't keep a beard?"
"Fine, no kisses then!"
Gu Zheng stomped off in a huff.
The next day, at the New Year's Eve palace banquet.
Emperor Yuanyou stared at Gu Zheng, whose beard had been shaved completely clean, and for a moment couldn't quite process it.
Where was his burly, bearded general?
"Gu Zheng, where is your beard?"
Emperor Yuanyou voiced the question on everyone's mind in the hall.
"The beard was inconvenient, so I shaved it off," Gu Zheng said with an awkward laugh. He had tossed and turned all night, ultimately deciding that cuddling with his granddaughter was more important.
So, he had shaved it off first thing in the morning.
Yu Fan, who knew the inside story, stifled a laugh.
Everyone else felt a bit uncomfortable. A general without a beard... looked like a tiger stripped of its fur.
An eyesore.
After three rounds of drinks, the free-toasting session began.
Yu Fan picked up his wine cup and headed straight for Song Shihuan.
"Minister Yu, have you fully recovered?"
"Thanks to Your Highness's blessings, I am completely well now." Yu Fan's eyes were full of respect for Song Shihuan. "You saved my life. Today, I offer you this toast."
During that great battle, if the princess hadn't thought of using mirrors to reflect sunlight, he... would have found it very hard to keep his life.
"It's good that you're fully recovered. That way, Sister Gu can rest easy too."
As she spoke, Song Shihuan raised the cup of goat's milk in front of her and gulped it down.
In the past, she could still drink some fruit wine, but now that the old man was here, she was only allowed goat's milk.
Song Shihuan felt a bit deflated. This really hindered her journey to adulthood.
"I remember back when you married Sister Gu, you said you wouldn't return to the Northern Desert until you had achieved military merit. It's been so many years, and you and Sister Gu haven't seen your parents since. Now that you are covered in glory, when do you plan to go back to the Northern Desert to see them?"
Song Shihuan's eyes darted around mischievously. If they were planning to go to the Northern Desert, they should take her along!
The palace nowadays was a minefield everywhere.
Of course, the minefield was only for her.
"We should go back for a visit."
Mentioning his family brought a touch of longing to Yu Fan's eyes. "I've discussed it with Ming Liu. We plan to go to the Northern Desert together after the New Year celebrations. Mingzhu wants to go too once she heard, to see her elder brother."
I want to go too!
Song Shihuan screamed internally.
"It's good to have a plan. Remember to inform His Majesty in advance when the time comes," Song Shihuan said with a smile.
That would give her enough time to win over her grandfather.
"Of course."
Seeing Song Shihuan and Yu Fan chatting happily, Emperor Yuanyou cleared his throat several times, failing to attract Song Shihuan's attention. Just as he was about to make more noise, a light laugh sounded beside him.
"How old are you, still acting like a child?"
Master Qingshan was leaning back in his chair. As he hadn't fully recovered from his illness, he was wrapped in a blanket, and his cup contained only tea.
For decades, no one had dared speak to him with such disregard for the boundaries between ruler and subject. Emperor Yuanyou felt both embarrassed and annoyed, yet also found it somewhat novel.
"You should worry about yourself first. Don't let a gust of wind blow you away."
"Thank you for your concern. I still have some weight to me; the wind won't blow me away."
And so, the two old men began trading barbs.
Song Yu and Qingling exchanged a look, both clearly finding the situation ridiculous.
Had these two old men eaten something wrong today?
......
The New Year holiday was Emperor Yuanyou's only break all year—no court sessions, no reviewing memorials. He wished every day could be spent in the blissful joy of doting on his grandchildren.
But it seemed the people from the Qingyun Sect had decided to overstay their welcome.
They kept taking Ah Huan out of the palace for day trips and bringing her back.
One day, the imperial father and son were fuming in the Zichen Hall, nursing their grievances.
"Yu, isn't it about time the Qingyun Sect people left?"
"Should we hold a farewell banquet for them?"
"Reasonable."
Song Yu agreed without a second thought. Although this move was somewhat rude, it could win back custody of Ah Huan.
The next day, Song Yu began preparing the farewell banquet.
When the Qingyun Sect members heard about it, they didn't object, allowing the banquet to be arranged.
The elaborate banquet preparation process was forcefully compressed into three days.
The seventh day of the New Year, an auspicious day for moving.
At the farewell banquet, Master Qingshan looked perfectly normal, even cheerful, showing no sign of displeasure whatsoever.
Seeing this, Emperor Yuanyou and Song Yu breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Getting rid of unwanted guests was hard.
As the farewell banquet was drawing to a close, Emperor Yuanyou asked with a smile, "Might I ask when the Master plans to return to the Qingyun Realm with your disciples?"
The old man looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Emperor Yuanyou instantly had a foreboding feeling.
"Who said I'm returning to the Qingyun Realm?"
"But today is the farewell banquet..." Emperor Yuanyou said, practically biting off each word.
"Indeed. My disciples will set off for the Qingyun Realm tomorrow."
The old man leaned back in his chair. "But I'm old, and my health isn't good. I'll stay in the capital to recuperate for now, and keep Ah Huan company."
Then the old man looked straight at Emperor Yuanyou:
"Great Qi won't turn me away, will it?"
